Waterproof headset



Jan. 16, 1951 o. H. HUSTON ET AL 2,538,419

WATERPROOF HEADSET Filed March 16, 1946 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Fjigl.

1951 o. H. HUSTON ET AL 2,538,419

WATERPROOF HEADSET Filed March 16, 1946 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WATTOR/YEYPatented Jan. 16, 1951 WATERPROOF HEADSET Owen H. Huston and John S.John, Houston, Tex., assignors to Electro-Mechanical Research, Inc.,Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application March 16, 1946, SerialNo. 654,880

. 1 This invention relates to headsets for use in telephony, radio,telegraph and signalling devices, and it relates particularly towaterproof headsets.

ing under adverse conditions of humidity, damp-- ness or waterimmersion. Attempts have been made to waterproof headphones by encasingthem in rubber. However, these attempts have .not been successful forthe reason that the intensity of the signal is decreased by the presenceof the rubber cover to such an extent as to render the earphonespractically unuseable, One reason for the diminution in the signal isthat rubbery materials are poor conductors of sounds and vibrations;Another reason is that when the cover is applied over the front orear-engaging portion of the earphone, the cover has a tendency to dampthe sound even when the earphone was subjected to atmospheric pressure.When the earphone is subjected to superatmospheric pressure as, forexample, when the earphone is immersed in water, the rubber cover ispressed tightly against the earphone casing leaving only a very smallarea free and unsupported and able to vibrate with the air columns inthe holes in the I ear phone cap.

j mospheric pressure.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of typical earphones and headsets embodying the presentinvention.

4 Claims. (Cl. 179-456) In accordance with the present invention,earphones and headsets are provided which are characterized by thepresence of a complete waterproof covering for the earphones and theconnecting cords or conductors, the earphone earphone to transmitvibrations without substantial loss of efficiency.

.More particularly, the earphone itself is modified to the extent of theremoval of the center portion of the earphone cap to provide an enlargedopening therein, and the waterproof covering is provided with a thindiaphragm portion that is normally spaced from the earphone cap so thatit is responsive to vibration of the diaphragm and acts as a secondarydiaphragm for the transmission of sound to the ear. When earphones'orheadsets embodying the invention are. subjected to increased pressure,the diaphragm portion of the waterproof cover is displaced into contactwith the earphone casing or cap, but the: center portion of thewaterproof cover overlying the opening in the earphone cap remains inspaced relationship to the vibratable diaphragm of the earphone andfollows its vibrations because of the large air column therebetween. Asa result, the covered earphone operates with good efficiency underordinary pressures and even when under a hydrostatic head as great as 10feet of Water.

For a better understandin of the present invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1' is a view in front elevation of a typical headset embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the headset with a part of theconnecting cords broken away;

Figure 3 is a view of a single earphone with the waterproof coverthereonshown in section; and

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the earphone shown somewhatenlarged and with the waterproof cover removed.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the headset consists of a pair of earphonesl0 and H which are connected by means of a headband I Z. The twoearphoneassemblies land H are connected by means of waterproof cords l3and M to a junction box l5which is covered with waterproof sheath and isconnected to a signalling device by awaterproof cord l6.

The earphones H1 and II are substantially identical and, therefore, onlyone of the earphones will be described hereinafter.

Referring now to Figure 3, a complete earphone assembly I I may includean earphone ll of any conventional type, for example, one including anelectromagnetic element and a vibratablediaphragm 30, enclosed in acasing l8. The casing l8 may be formed of hard rubber or other cover 20.

material and includes a back casing element l8a of generally cylindricalform and an enlarged cylindrical cap or earpiece [8b. Preferably, theperiphery of the cap I81) is formed with a concave or curved surface I80for a purpose to be described. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the cap l8bof the earphone I! is provided with an enlarged central opening lBdinstead of the usual group of small openings. Ina typical earphone, thediameter of the central opening lSd may be about one inch. However, theopening I8d may be somewhat smaller or somewhat larger, as desired.

The earphone H is completely encased in a cover formed of rubberymaterial such as, for

example, a synthetic rubber known as neoprene of about 35 durometerhardness. Neoprene is a polymer of chloroprene having the general Othersynthetic or natural rubbers also are-entirely satisfactory.

The casing or cover for the earphone El preferably is made up of twosections, namely, an outer cover l9 and an earphone cup or front Theouter cover i9 is of generally cup-shaped form having a recessed portionElla for receiving the base of the earphone 18a and an external .flangeportion I912 overlying and engagingthe concave periphery I80 of the ear-.phone cap v[8b. The outer cover I9 is also provided with a tubularsleeve 19c integral therewith through whichthe wires or cords of theearphones are passed.

The earphone cupiZUis ofv generally cup-shaped 'formadapted to fit overthe ear and is provided with-a vrearwardly-extending flange 20a adaptedto overlap the flange l9?) on the outercover member.

The earphone cup 20 is also provided with a thin diaphragm portion 201)which isof some what greater diameter than the opening l8d in theearphone cap I812. The diaphragm portion 20b is normally spaced from theearphone .cap

7 I81) by meansof a circular shoulder 200 formed integrally with theearphone cup 213. The diaphragm 26b is sufficiently flexible to followthe vibrations of the diaphragm in the earphone H.

In assembling the outer cover l9 and'the earphone cup 20, the outercover I9is applied to" the earphone El and the flange 28a of the cup 20is then telescoped over the flange I9b, the flanges [9b and Zila beingcemented together. A'metallic band or strap 2! is placed around theflange 20a andis drawn up tightly by means'of a'bolt 22 (Figures 1 and2) which passes through ears 23 on opposite ends of the strap 2!,thereby compressing the flanges [91) and a into 'the'con cave periphery180 of the earphone caplii. Also, .to reinforce the outer cover andprovide a support for .the earphonaa spider 24 formed of metal is fittedover the outer cover 19 and has its armsZ-Qa welded or otherwise securedto the strap 21.

The strap 2! is provided with a laterally directed flange or plate 25 towhichtheheadband I2 is secured. This flange or-plate 25-is provided witha plurality of openings 25a which receive rivets or screws '26 that havetheir opposite ends anchored in a U-shaped spring platejZ'l. The end ofthe headband I2 is disposedbetween the plate 25 and the spring plate 2"!and is provided with a slot '28 for receiving the rivets 26 andpermitting slidingadjustment of the earphone assembly alongtheheadbandll.

The cord I4 is provided with a rubber or synthetic rubber cover and iscemented into the sleeve I90 and secured there by means of a wrapping ofcord 29 Or the like. Thus, the earphone I! and all of the cords andother connecting elements are completely covered with waterproofmaterial so that prolonged immersion of the headset in water will notshort circuit, or prevent operation of, the headphone.

In operation, when the, headset is applied to :the ears, the vibratablediaphragms within the earphone assemblies in and II will set upvibrationsin the column of air between the diaphragms and the diaphragmportions 2%. Inasmuch as each-diaphragm portion 20b vibrates with thediaphragm of its associated earphone, efiective sound transmission isobtained.

If the headset is immersed in water, the entire waterproof cover foreach earphone I1 is subjected to increased pressure and the diaphragmportion 20b of the cover will be compresed against ing the presentinvention are capable of satisfactoryoperation without severe loss ofefilciency when subjectedto hydrostatic heads asgreat as 1.0 feet.Therefore, it will be apparent that a truly waterproof headsethas'beenprovidedwhich operates efliciently'under the most adverseconditions expected to be encountered in its use.

It will be understood that the design and shape of the elements may bemodified considerably and that the mechanism for securing the headphoneto the headband may be variedwidely. Therefore,'the form of theinvention described 'herein should be considered as illustrative and notas limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim: 1. A waterproof headphone comprising'an earphone having anearpiece'provided with a centrally located opening, a vibratablediaphragm behind said earpiece, electrical means for 'vibrating saiddiaphragm anda-casing member joined to said earpiece and enclosing saiddiaphragm and electrical means; afirst'resilient waterproof covermember-overlying said earpiece, said cover member having a thindiaphragm portion-overlying said opening and spaced from said earpiece;

asecond resilient, waterproof'cover member overlying said casing memberand telescopically'engaging an edge of said first cover member inwatertight relationship; and a clamping band overlying thetelescopically engaged portions of said cover members and having alaterally clirected flange thereon for engagement with a headband.

2. A waterproo'f'headphone comprising an earphone having an earpieceprovided with'a centrally located opening, a vibratablediaphrag'm behindsaid earpiece,electrical meansfor vibrating said diaphragm and a casingmember joined to said earpiece and enclosing said diaphragmandelectrical means; a first resilient waterproof *cover memberoverlyingsaid earpiece, said cover V ber.

l member having a thin diaphragm portion overlying said opening andspaced from said earpiece; a second resilient, waterproof cover memberoverlying said casing member and telescopically engaging an edge of saidfirst cover member in watertight relationship; a tubular, resilientportion projecting from said second cover member; a waterproof phonecord connected to electrical means and extending through said tubularportion in watertight relation thereto; and a clamping band overlyingthe telescopically engaged portions of said cover members and having alaterally directed flange thereon for engagement with a headband.

3. A waterproof headphone comprising an earphone having an earpieceprovided with a centrally located opening, a vibratable diaphragm behindsaid earpiece, electrical means for vibrating said diaphragm and acasing member joined to said earpiece and enclosing said diaphragm "andelectrical means; a-first resilient waterproof cover member overlyingsaid earpiece, said cover member having a thin diaphragm portion overlying said opening and spaced from said earpiece; a second resilient,waterproof cover member overlying said casing member and telescopicallyengaging an edge of said first cover member in watertight relationship;and a clamping band overlying the telescopically engaged portions ofsaid cover members and having a laterally directed flange thereon forengagement with a headband, and a spider member having arms secured tosaid clamping band and extending across the outside of said second covermem- 4. A waterproof headphone comprising an earphone having an earpieceprovided with a centrally located opening, a vibratable diaphragm behindsaid earpiece, electrical means for vibrating said diaphragm and acasing member joined to said earpiece and enclosing said diaphragm andelectrical means; a first resilient waterproof cover member overlyingsaid earpiece, said cover 7 member having a thin diaphragm portionoverlying said opening and spaced from said earpiece; a secondresilient, waterproof cover member overlying said casing member andtelescopically engaging an edge of said first cover member in watertightrelationship; a tubular, resilient portion projecting from said secondcover member; a Waterproof phone cord connected to electrical means andextending through said tubular portion in watertight relation thereto; aclamping band overlying the telescopically engaged portions of saidcover members and having a laterally directed flange thereon forengagement with a headband; and a spider member having arms secured tosaid clamping band and extending across the outside of said second covermember.

OWEN H. HUSTON. JOHN S. JOHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,545 Whitman Apr. 24, 19171,365,423 Shewhart Jan. 11, 1921 2,345,996 Anderson et a1. Apr. 4, 19442,410,805 Black Nov. 12, 1946

